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Leviticus 21:16-24: Blemished Priests

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

1.     Context
a.     In Leviticus 21:1-15 we see rules specifically for the priests 
b.    The priests had stricter guidelines
1.    Dead bodies
2.    Marry a widow/divorced woman
c.     Verses 16-24 discusses the physical disqualifications for being a priest
2.     Verses 16-24
a.     16-18a
                                                             i.      God tells Moses to deliver a message to Aaron, who, as High Priest, was responsible for making sure everyone knew and fulfilled their duties
                                                          ii.      Those who have a physical deformity are not allowed to enter God’s presence
b.    Verses 18b-21
                                                             i.      Moses provides an example of such deformities
c.     Verses 22-24
                                                             i.      Moses clarifies exactly what he means
                                                          ii.      They could still live normally and eat that which was for the priests, but they were not to function as priests by entering into the Holy Place or the Most Holy Place—the presence of God
                         iii.  God's presence sanctified the sanctuaries (Vs 23)
3.     Practical Application
a.     The Holiness of God
                                                             i.      Having a physical deformity was not sinful or morally inferior, but only perfection could enter into God’s presence (all animals offered to God had to be blemish free as well)
                                                          ii.      Habbakuk 1:13: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…”
                                                       iii.      Isaiah 59:2: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
                                                       iv.      God and sin cannot coexist
                         v.  Just as God's presence sanctified the inner parts of the Tabernacle/Temple, so too the Holy Spirit sanctifies the Church
b.    The grace of God
                                                             i.      Verse 22
                                                          ii.      Though God was using these priests with deformities as an example by which to teach His people, he still provided for their well being
                                                       iii.      God cares for all of His people, even those who have weaknesses
                                                       iv.      Those who will not work should not eat, but those who cannot work may.  The Church ought to care for those who are unable to work
c.     The purity of our High Priest, Jesus
                                                             i.      Only a perfect priest could enter God’s presence, and that’s exactly what Jesus was
                                                          ii.      Jesus was the spotless priest and the spotless Lamb
                                                       iii.      Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect was tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
                                                       iv.      This is the glorious privilege of living in the New Covenant—because we have a perfect High Priest, one who offered a perfect sacrifice once for all, we are able to draw into God’s presence, despite our blemishes
                                                          v.      We are all priests who may enter into God’s presence through the intercession of Christ (1 Peter 2:9—royal priesthood)
                                                       vi.      Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
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